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Xinhua Takes On Romney Over Israel Remarks

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks in Jerusalem over the weekend.

U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has taken no shortage of media bruising during his three-nation foreign tour. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency is the latest to join in.

Xinhua on Tuesday criticized Mr. Romney’s suggestion that as president he would be open to moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. U.S. presidents have previously chosen not to do so since such a move might indicate the U.S. supported Israel’s complete sovereignty over the city.

Xinhua said Mr. Romney’s comments could “likely worsen the already tense Mideast situation, and even reignite a war between Palestinians and Israelis.”

It’s unclear why Chinese state media chose to attack the latest Romney remarks, though the Xinhua commentary suggested broader frustration with a candidate keen to highlight his foreign-policy credentials ahead of a November election. In particular, Mr. Romney has called for a harsher U.S. stance on Iran, a traditional ally of China and one of its most important Mideast crude suppliers. Mr. Romney has also said he would label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office, though as a candidate President Obama also talked tough on the issue.

The Xinhua commentary described recent remarks by Mr. Romney as “hawkish,” and said his “radical words were intended to win the support of U.S. Jewish voters.”

Mr. Romney, in an interview with CNN, left no shortage of breathing room when pressed on whether he would move the U.S. Embassy, saying the timing of a move would be something he would have to work out with Israel’s government.

Xinhua is one of the government’s most important propaganda mouthpieces, though its commentaries on foreign policy issues don’t necessarily reflect the views of all decision makers. Chinese foreign policy is shaped by a wide range of government actors.

The commentary comes as China’s own policies in the Middle East have come under harsh criticism from the Obama administration and others. In particular, China together with Russia have vetoed U.N. Security Council resolutions on the violence in Syria.

Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995, which called on the U.S. to relocate its embassy there. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama haven’t followed through on it.

China was traditionally an ally of Palestine, and supported revolutionary Arab struggles against perceived foreign aggression and imperialism. More recently, however, China has deepened economic and political ties with Israel. China is keen to do business with Israeli high-tech and other companies, for example, including those who have pioneered new water reclamation and purification technologies.

Nonetheless, in an election season in which analysts say China-bashing will be a recurring overtone, media criticism from Xinhua might be just what the Romney campaign is looking for.